Month: March 2021

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Comic Books & Graphic Novels Marvel Comics

MARVEL TEAM-UP # 7 (2005 MARVEL Comics)

Written by Robert Kirkman

Art by Scott Kolins; Studio F; & VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Art by Scott Kolins & Edgar Delgado

SUMMARY:

Marvel Comics released this issue for April 2005.  Though the issue’s title is omitted in this version, it’s “Ring of the Master, Part 1 of 5.”   In an ongoing sub-plot, upon having fought Sunfire, the alien Titannus returns to his starship where a mysterious woman is kept in a stasis pod.  More of his intentions are later revealed.  Meanwhile, in New York City, the nefarious Ringmaster has pilfered off the black market one of the Mandarin’s mystical rings formed from a Cosmic Cube fragment. 

Taking home dinner takeout-for-two, Spider-Man finds himself tag-teaming with Moon Knight vs. the wily Constrictor.  Passing above the Ringmaster’s brazen bank heist, the Moon-Jet carrying Spider-Man, Moon Knight, & Frenchie is shot down by the villain’s new reality-warping magic.  As Spider-Man & Moon Knight fight back, the issue ends on a cliffhanger.     

Note: This copy is a reprint was included with Moon Knight in Marvel Legends’ 2006 MODOK action figure wave. 

REVIEW:

Aside from an amusing Batman-related quip by Spider-Man (upon seeing the inside of the posh Moon-Jet), it’s business-as-usual.  The art squad’s visuals are solidly produced.  Even if this issue is hardly remarkable, Marvel Team-Up # 7 still offers an entertaining, kid-friendly-enough read for Marvel enthusiasts. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     6½ Stars

Categories
Comic Books & Graphic Novels DC Comics

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA # 4 (2007 DC Comics)

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Dale Eaglesham, Ruy José, & Jeromy Cox

Cover Art by Alex Ross, Dale Eaglesham, & Ruy José

SUMMARY:

Entitled “The Next Age, Chapter Four,” DC Comics released this issue for May 2007.  Three battles are currently in progress.  In Brooklyn, Wildcat (Ted Grant) and his teenage were-cat son, Tom Bronson, savagely tag-team against an equally brutal Vandal Savage.  Father and son must resort to old-school tactics to overpower Savage.  Later on, Wildcat introduces his newly-discovered heir to life at the JSA’s Battery Park HQ.  

In Blue Valley, Nebraska, the JSA: Stargirl, Cyclone, Power Girl, Flash, & Starman defends Stargirl’s family from attack from Nazi-like forces.  In Philadelphia, more of the JSA: Green Lantern, Liberty Belle II, Hourman II, Damage, & Hawkman contend with Captain Nazi’s attack squad.  Damage is chastised by Rick Tyler (Hourman II) for his recklessness that nearly kills Jesse Chambers (Liberty Belle II).  Both of these battles rage on until the nefarious opposition is overpowered. 

Meanwhile, as a hint towards an imminent Justice League crossover, a time-lost Dream Girl is seen as Doctor Destiny’s captive.    

Notes: Ross, Eaglesham, & José also conjured up a variant cover depicting Jesse Quick/Liberty Belle caught in Damage’s explosive blast.  Near the end of this issue, a two-page spread spells out the current JSA as: Wildcats I and III, Green Lantern (Alan Scott), Flash (Jay Garrick), Hawkman, Power Girl, Dr. Mid-Nite III, Mr. Terrific II, Damage, Ma Hunkel, Stargirl, Hourman II, Liberty Belle II, Sandy Hawkins’ Sandman, Obsidian, the Legion’s Starman, and Cyclone.

REVIEW:

Meant for DC’s avid JSA fanbase, this issue’s entire creative team is on its game.  While the enormous JSA roster is hard to keep track of, writer Geoff Johns does solid work traversing three ongoing battle sequences.  The potential risk, however, is that Johns’ ambitious style (juggling so many characters all at once) might overwhelm casual readers now just tuning in. 

Still, the scripting benefits from this art squad’s dynamite visuals, including the Alex Ross cover image. Though it isn’t necessarily a must-have, Justice Society of America # 4 is a first-class ride from DC Comics.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The last page is a “DC Nation” column, which includes cover glimpses for The Atom # 9, 52 # 44, and Jonah Hex # 17.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                              8 Stars

Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

YOU WERE MINE (by The Dixie Chicks: Wide Open Spaces)

SUMMARY:                                       RUNNING TIME: 3:37 Min.

Written and performed by The Dixie Chicks, “You Were Mine” is the fifth track off their 1998 album, Wide Open Spaces.  

REVIEW:

The Dixie Chicks are in solid storytelling form.  The first-person lyrics describing a wife’s grief over losing her husband to another woman isn’t about originality.  What this trio instead conjures up is a nicely-rendered and bittersweet ballad.  For fans of contemporary country, “You Were Mine” merits a chance at re-discovery.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                           7 Stars

Categories
Comic Books & Graphic Novels Marvel Comics

THE AMAZING SPIDER-GIRL # 17 (2008 MARVEL Comics)

Written by Tom DeFalco & Ron Frenz

Art by Tom DeFalco, Ron Frenz, Sal Buscema, Bruno Hang, Impact Studios, & Dave Sharpe

Cover Art by Ron Frenz, Sal Buscema, & Paul Mounts

SUMMARY:

Entitled “There Can Be Only One!,” Marvel Comics released this issue for June 2008.  It’s a sequel to a tale from 2005’s Spider-Man Family # 1, as May “Spider-Girl” Parker again faces an adult Anya “Araña” Corazon.  In the MC2 alternate reality/not-so-distant future, teenager May “Mayday” Parker has personal decisions to make.  Her ongoing responsibility as a rookie Spider-Girl is impacting her relationship with boyfriend Gene Thompson, much to her chagrin. 

Lured from Gene’s football practice, May realizes that she’s being spied upon.  Araña personally scouts Spider-Girl’s potential as her future recruit in a battle of MC2’s Spider-Women.  Meanwhile, May reaches out to her retired dad for help becoming a better Spider-Girl.   

REVIEW:

For fans of May Parker’s Spider-Girl, Issue # 17 is well-played.  Not only is May’s school life an intriguing parallel to her father’s past (i.e. May dating Flash Thompson’s kid!), the energetic battle sequence vs. anti-heroine Araña is worthy of any Spider-caper.  In terms of the visuals, there isn’t anything spectacular, but this art squad doesn’t disappoint, either.  Amazing Spider-Girl # 17 is certainly worth adding to any Marvel favorites collection.      

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The first page summarizes the current storyline to date.  There’s a full-page interview with Marvel writer Jason Aaron. The full-page “Mayday’s Mailbox” letters-and-answers column includes cover previews for The Amazing Spider-Girl # 18 and American Dream # 1-2.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   7½ Stars

Categories
Country, Folk, & Bluegrass Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows

YOU’RE GONNA MISS A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE (by Crystal Bernard: The Girl Next Door)

SUMMARY:                                      RUNNING TIME: 4:03 Min.

Off her 1996 The Girl Next Door album, Crystal Bernard of NBC TV’s Wings performs this country-western ballad.  It’s Track # 3.

REVIEW:

Crystal Bernard delivers a gentle, low-key sound.  It’s the right approach bringing this tune’s well-written lyrics to life.  For contemporary county-western enthusiasts, “You’re Gonna Miss a Whole Lot of Love” merits consideration as a download option.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       7 Stars

Categories
Comic Books & Graphic Novels Marvel Comics

AMAZING FANTASY # 1 (2004 MARVEL Comics)

Written by Fiona Avery

Art by Mark Brooks; Jaime Mendoza; Crimelab’s Victor Olazaba; & VC’s Rus Wooton

Cover Art by Mark Brooks & Jaime Mendoza

SUMMARY:

Amazing Fantasy, in its original Silver Age incarnation, was a short-lived Marvel Comics anthology series meant to audition characters for their own prospective new series.  The first series ended in 1962 with Issue # 15, as Stan Lee introduced Spider-Man to the world.  This August 2004 re-launch leads off with the introduction of spunky teenager Anya Corazon/Araña (who eventually becomes Marvel’s Spider-Girl). 

Entitled “Not An Angel,” Anya’s first day of high school in Brooklyn starts off badly with a fight against a far-larger football player defending her best friend from hallway bullying.  Slipping out of her apartment home that night after her journalist father goes on an assignment, diminutive Anya is egged into finishing her school-related showdown at Fort Greens Park.  Yet, she inadvertently ends up in the crossfire between two feuding ancient cults – one of which is the sinister Sisterhood of the Wasp.  Seeking his order’s expected new initiate, a desperate young warrior witnesses the birth of Anya’s destiny.       

REVIEW:

Nicely played!  Writer Fiona Avery conjures a fresh new heroine who displays instant promise.  Not pushing too much too fast, Avery’s well-paced storyline deftly sets up a cliffhanger finish worth catching.  Impressively, the art squad’s exuberant visuals bring Anya’s world to life.  While Amazing Fantasy # 1 isn’t a superb read, it’s still plenty good.    

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

None.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         8 Stars

Categories
Digital Songs & Albums Individual Tracks (Digital Albums & Singles) Music & Radio Shows Pop, R&B, Soul, & Dance

YOU’RE IN LOVE (by Wilson Phillips: Best of Wilson Phillips)

SUMMARY:                               RUNNING TIME: 4:52 Min.

Released in 1990 on Wilson Phillips’ self-titled debut album, “You’re In Love” inspired a music video in conjunction with its radio play.  The tune has been subsequently re-released on both the 2005 Best of Wilson Phillips and their Greatest Hits compilation.   

REVIEW:

It’s a satisfying blend of a gentle melody, bittersweet lyrics, and engaging vocal harmony from Chynna Phillips, Wendy Wilson, and Carnie Wilson.  Aging relatively well, “You’re in Love” makes an endearing download option for Late 80’s-Early 90’s pop playlists. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         7 Stars

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Categories
Comic Books & Graphic Novels DC Comics DC's Hardcovers & Trade Paperbacks

A VERY DC HALLOWEEN (DC Comics)

Written by (See Below)  

Art by (See Below)

Cover Art by Doug Mahnke & Wil Quintana

SUMMARY:

DC Comics released this 168-page paperback compilation in 2019, from a pair of one-shots: 2017’s DC’s House of Horror # 1 followed by 2018’s Cursed Comics Cavalcade # 1.  House of Horror’s eight stories occur in nightmarish alternate realities while Cursed Comics’ ten tales evidently exist in mainstream DC continuity.  The eighteen tales are:

  1. Bump in The Night.  Writer: Keith Giffen & Art by: Edward Lee, Howard Porter, Hi-Fi, & Rob Leigh.  Smallville farming couple, Jonathan and Martha Kent, are prey for a demonic young refugee from planet Krypton.
  2. Man’s World.  Writer: Keith Giffen & Art by: Mary Sangiovanni, Bilquis Evely, Mat Lopes, & Taylor Esposito.  Channeling a psychotic Amazonian warrior’s spirit, a teenage girl commences a deadly rampage.
  3. Crazy for You. Writers: Keith Giffen, Bryan Smith, and Brian Keene, & Art by: Kyle Baker.  Egged on by a ghostly Harley Quinn, an unhinged demolition crew member at Arkham Asylum lashes out on a killing spree.
  4. Last Laugh.  Writer: Keith Giffen and Nick Cutter & Art by: Rags Morales, Lovern Kindzierski, & Wes Abbott.  Inside a deranged Bruce Wayne’s mind, Batman and the Joker are split personalities destroying him. 
  5. Blackest Day.  Writers: Keith Giffen and Brian Keene & Art by: Scott Kolins, Romulo Fajardo, Jr., & Josh Reed.  After consuming Earth, a vampire-like zombie virus infiltrates the JLA’s Watchtower base on the Moon. 
  6. Stray Arrow.  Writers: Keith Giffen and Ronald Malfi & Art by: Dale Eaglesham, Jordan Boyd, & Pat Brosseau.  As the zombie-like Arrow Killer terrorizes Star City, there may be another predator lurking out there.
  7. Unmasked.  Writers: Keith Giffen and Wrath James White & Art by: Tom Raney, Gina Going-Raney, & Sal Cipriano.  While a gigantic, subterranean insect destroys Gotham City, Gotham’s District Attorney Harvey Dent pursues a serial killer whose trademark is ripping and slicing off the faces of innocent victims.
  8. The Possession of Billy Batson.  Writers: Keith Giffen and Weston Ochse & Art by: Howard V. Chaykin & Wil Quintana.  Goth teenage punk Billy Batson resists an ominous calling that threatens his girlfriend.
  9. The Spread.  Writer: Tim Seeley & Art by: Kyle Hotz; Fco Plascencia; & Steve Wands.  Swamp Thing /Dr. Alec Holland resorts to desperate measures to halt a mutant plague threatening Earth.
  10. Gorehound.  Writer: Gary Dauberman & Art by: Riccardo Federici; Sunny Gho; & Steve Wands.  On a dark and stormy Gotham night, Batman pursues an unexpected serial killer, whose murder sprees are reminiscent of gory slasher films.
  11. Siren Song.  Writer: Vita Ayala & Art by: Victor Ibañez, Matthew Wilson, & Clayton Cowles.  In Greece, Wonder Woman faces off underwater vs. a shape-shifting demon of legend. 
  12. Life Sentence.  Writers: Kenny Porter and Riley Rossmo & Art by: Ivan Plascencia & Tom Napolitano.  In deep space, Green Lantern Guy Gardner’s off-world partying is interrupted by a distress call that pits himself against an unexpected foe.
  13. Yellow Jack.  Writers: Gabriel Hardman and Corinna Bechko & Art by: Gabriel Hardman, Trish Mulvhill, & Clayton Cowles.  In 1853 New Orleans, Jason Blood’s escape from Etrigan’s curse inadvertently triggers a demonic serial killer.
  14. Strange Visitor.  Writer: Mags Visaggio & Art by: Minkyu Jung, Jordie Bellaire, & Josh Reed.  In Metropolis, Clark Kent and his wife, Lois Lane, are targeted in their sleep by a mysterious phantasm. 
  15. The Monster in Me.  Writer: Michael Moreci & Art by: Felipe Watanabe, Jonas Trindade, Rumolo Fajardo, Jr., & Andworld Design.  In Seattle, an exhausted Green Arrow hides from Black Canary that a personal demon has literally surfaced in his mind.
  16. Mercy Killing.  Writer: Bryan Hill & Art by: Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini; & Carlos M. Mangual.  In a secluded Japanese village, amidst snowfall, Katana & Black Lightning safeguard a sleeping young girl from a ghostly demon preying upon her.
  17. The Devil You Know.  Writer: Dave Wielgosz & Art by: Christian Duce, Rumolo Fajardo, Jr., & Tom Napolitano. On a Gotham night, Damian Wayne’s Robin teams up with Solomon Grundy on a dire mission of mercy.
  18. Halloween Hayride.  Writer: James Tynion IV & Art by: Mark Buckingham, Andrew Pepoy, & Jordie Bellaire.  After finishing their magic show in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Zatara inspires his 19-year old daughter, Zatanna, to go out and experience the true spirit of Halloween.  In part, she opts to protect a little girl from a wicked prank that her teenage brother has in mind. 

REVIEW:

A Very DC Halloween’s appalling first half often lives down to another reprehensible DC collection: Joker’s Asylum.  No matter how good the production values really are, high-caliber visual styles don’t disguise ghastly shock value.  This initial content hovers between Tales from the Crypt and the kind of vile, misogynistic trash that EC Comics peddled in the 1950’s. In a slightly different context, one may deem this Halloween collection as being written in the spirit of DC’s Blackest Night saga, including its worst extremes. 

Suffice to say, it’s hard to fathom legitimate entertainment value in the first eight stories.  An odd exception is the Shazam! tale, which just abruptly ends.  Readers don’t see what this goth Billy’s Shazam looks like (let alone what he’s supposed to do –is now he’s the World’s Mightiest Vampire?).  Otherwise, there’s no practical reason for analyzing these debauched House of Horror tales.  Re: why DC Comics doesn’t include a parental advisory label, perhaps one is inclined to ask impressionable kids, who merely see Batman on the cover.

What’s in Cursed Comics Cavalcade # 1, however, is another matter.  Again, the visual styles are duly impressive, especially the gothic aura of “Yellow Jack.”  These remaining ten tales are macabre to varying degrees without excessive gore – that is, with one exception. There’s a grisly (and unnecessary) close-up in “Gorehound” spelling out this reviewer’s contention that glorifying cannibalism for entertainment’s sake is inexcusable.    

Incorporating its plot twist, “Gorehound” is almost a complete story.  What missing is a convincing glimpse of Batman’s deductive reasoning in play to give this Bat-tale more credibility.  The same applies to “The Monster in Me,” as writer Michael Moreci teases far more than he actually delivers.  Specifically, Moreci leaves readers hanging re: the truth of the demonic taunts.  The only fair inference is that Ollie’s broken bow evidently signifies that the hallucinatory spell, too is now broken, too.  

Aside from these instances, the remaining stories are solidly conveyed as is.  Among them, Zatanna’s innocuous hayride is a surprisingly PG-friendly finish for this nightmarish compilation.  In that sense, if these eighteen tales had all deployed the tamer style of Cursed Comics Cavalcade, a Very DC Halloween might have merited 8 to 9 Stars.  Due to the House of Horror’s icky contributions chalking up a total zero, this reviewer is compelled to split the difference.

Note: Curiously, the back cover’s hype for Zatanna might imply that her story is Paul Dini & Dustin Nguyen’s well-regarded “kcirT Ro taerT.”  Though “Halloween Hayride” is a good read (with excellent visuals), the sinister Dini-Nguyen tale would have been ideal for inclusion in this particular collection.  

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Both covers are reprinted in full-page color.  Michael Wm. Kaluta & Lovern Kindzierski provide the cover for DC House of Horror # 1.  Mahnke & Quintana created the cover for Cursed Comics Cavalcade # 1.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          5 Stars

Categories
Comic Books & Graphic Novels DC Comics

THE WEB # 6 (2010 DC Comics)

Lead Feature Written by Matthew Sturges.  Art by Roger Robinson; Travis Lanham; & Guy Major.

Back-Up Feature Written by John Rozum. Back-Up Art by Tom Derenick; Bill Sienkiewicz; Travis Lanham; & Guy Major.

Cover Art by Stanley “ARTGERM” Lau.

SUMMARY:

In 2009, DC Comics again licensed Archie Comics’ Red Circle/Dark Circle super-heroes (i.e. The Mighty Crusaders).  Entitled Stunned: Part One of ‘Better Off Dead,’ DC Comics released The Web # 6 for April 2010. 

Residing in New York City, wealthy super-hero/philanthropist John “The Web” Raymond accepts off his website an assignment from a former would-be love, Patricia Fletcher, to bring her grandmother’s killer to justice.  Locating the culprit: female stockbroker Cybele Sahin, the wisecracking Web finds out that she is an Amazon-like, superhuman powerhouse calling herself “The Stunner.” 

In dark alley combat, a dazed Web retreats upon being physically outmatched by Stunner’s raw power.  Tracing her weakened foe back to Raymond’s secret lair, the nonchalant Stunner seeks to finish him off.  A twist ending leaves the Web in a bewildering predicament.

REVIEW:

Sporting Stanley Lau’s eye-popping cover image, The Web # 6 is a reasonably good read.  This flashy Web enjoys elements of Batman, Spider-Man, and the Golden Age Tarantula (from DC’s All-Star Squadron series), with some Booster Gold also thrown in.  Even if lacking in originality, DC’s colorful take might be the best reboot of this Golden Age hero dating back to 1942’s Zip Comics # 27. 

Good writing and some nifty visuals make Issue # 6 a fun getaway for casual readers.  The drawback is that there’s nothing uniquely appealing about the new Web (aside from his reliance on a website for super-hero gigs).  Despite some modest potential, in all likelihood, this character (let alone this series) will remain lost in DC’s eternal continuity-shuffling.    

Note: DC tried once before casting its Web.  In 1991, their middling Impact Comics imprint offered the Web, as one of the Mighty Crusaders licensed from Archie Comics.  Suffice to say, the Impact experiment didn’t last long. 

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Also recruited from the Red Circle/Dark Circle group, the Hangman (dating back to 1941) is DC’s choice as the 10-page back-up feature.  The supernatural premise has immortal physician Dr. Robert Dickering/The Hangman forever seeking redemption after escaping the noose himself in the mid-19th Century.  This installment is entitled “Dead Hand Legendre.” Specifically, the Hangman has incurred the wrath of macabre mobster “Dead Hand” Legendre and a blond assassin, ‘The Jackal,’ 

Battling several heavily-armed thugs, the Hangman must rescue a middle-aged couple held as hostages in a robbery.  Yet, is this scenario really an ambush by the so-called Ugly Man seeking some payback?  The overall segment is reasonably good, in terms of its noir-like writing and artwork.  One odd question readers might ponder is: why doesn’t Hangman (reminiscent of Marvel’s Shroud) share Dickering’s Tony Stark-like moustache?   

With a full-page color cover, there’s a four-page, black-and-white excerpt previewing the six-part “First Wave,” teaming Batman, Doc Savage, and The Spirit.  The last page is a Blackest Night-themed “DC Nation” column, with some input from Rickey Purdin of DC’s Marketing Department.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          7 Stars

Categories
Individual Tracks (CD's) Music & Radio Shows Rock, R&B, Pop, Soul, & Metal/Symphonic

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM… (by C+C Music Factory: Gonna Make You Sweat)

SUMMARY:                                      RUNNING TIME: 5:23 Min.

It’s the third track off C+C Music Factory’s 1990 album, Gonna Make You Sweat.   

REVIEW:

Somewhat reminiscent of Will Smith’s lighthearted rap style, C+C Music Factory delivers an enjoyable dance track.  Bolstered by a funky melody, spot-on teamwork between male and female vocals makes this radio-friendly tune worth the download for workout playlists.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                      8 Stars

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